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Fred Darling
Fred Darling
1884-1953
1884-1953
The word ‘martinet’ – a strict disciplinarian, a tyrant, even – has often been used to describe Beckhampton trainer Fred Darling. Ruthless, taciturn, secretive and intolerant are other adjectives cast in his direction. He was a perfectionist who had no time for second-rate in man or horse. He was, though, a great trainer. He trained seven Derby winners and was champion trainer six times.
The word ‘martinet’ – a strict disciplinarian, a tyrant, even – has often been used to describe Beckhampton trainer Fred Darling. Ruthless, taciturn, secretive and intolerant are other adjectives cast in his direction. He was a perfectionist who had no time for second-rate in man or horse. He was, though, a great trainer. He trained seven Derby winners and was champion trainer six times.
Frederick Darling, always known as Fred, was born on May 15, 1884. He hailed from a racing family. His father, Sam Darling, trained the Derby winners Galtee More (1897) and Ard Patrick (1902). He served his apprenticeship with his father at Newmarket and had a brief career as a jockey, riding four winners on the Flat before increasing weight got the better of him.
Frederick Darling, always known as Fred, was born on May 15, 1884. He hailed from a racing family. His father, Sam Darling, trained the Derby winners Galtee More (1897) and Ard Patrick (1902). He served his apprenticeship with his father at Newmarket and had a brief career as a jockey, riding four winners on the Flat before increasing weight got the better of him.
He began with a double at Kempton Park on May 10, 1901 on Happy Bird in the Spring Two-Year-Old Plate and Sinopi in the Apprentices’ Plate. Both were trained by his father, who also owned Happy Bird. However, this was not the first time Fred had ‘won’ a race, for at Newmarket eight days earlier he had finished first on Happy Bird in a maiden two-year-old race. Unfortunately, Fred had dismounted and been put up again before weighing in, which was against the rules, and thus was disqualified.
He began with a double at Kempton Park on May 10, 1901 on Happy Bird in the Spring Two-Year-Old Plate and Sinopi in the Apprentices’ Plate. Both were trained by his father, who also owned Happy Bird. However, this was not the first time Fred had ‘won’ a race, for at Newmarket eight days earlier he had finished first on Happy Bird in a maiden two-year-old race. Unfortunately, Fred had dismounted and been put up again before weighing in, which was against the rules, and thus was disqualified.
His two other wins were gained on consecutive days at Salisbury later that same month, on Miss Pac in the Longleat Selling Plate on May 23 and Uncle Sol in the Longford Plate on May 24, 1901.
His two other wins were gained on consecutive days at Salisbury later that same month, on Miss Pac in the Longleat Selling Plate on May 23 and Uncle Sol in the Longford Plate on May 24, 1901.
He also had the briefest of careers as a jump jockey. On Easter Monday, April 24, 1905 he finished second on Loquat, beaten a short-head, in the Tor Abbey Maiden Chase at Torquay. The winner was Sanctimonious, ridden by Bert Gordon. The rest of the day belonged to leading amateur Walter Bulteel, who rode the other five winners on the card. On the Tuesday of that Torquay meeting, all those three jockeys were involved in a tight finish to the St Mary-Church Hurdle, with victory going to Fred on Loquat, with half a length to spare over Bert Gordon on Boss Jones and Walter Bulteel on Bay Duchess who dead-heated for second place. He had just one more ride over jumps, on Loquat in the Elmley Chase at Pershore on May 8, but it ended in a fall. He did not renew his licence for 1906.
He also had the briefest of careers as a jump jockey. On Easter Monday, April 24, 1905 he finished second on Loquat, beaten a short-head, in the Tor Abbey Maiden Chase at Torquay. The winner was Sanctimonious, ridden by Bert Gordon. The rest of the day belonged to leading amateur Walter Bulteel, who rode the other five winners on the card. On the Tuesday of that Torquay meeting, all those three jockeys were involved in a tight finish to the St Mary-Church Hurdle, with victory going to Fred on Loquat, with half a length to spare over Bert Gordon on Boss Jones and Walter Bulteel on Bay Duchess who dead-heated for second place. He had just one more ride over jumps, on Loquat in the Elmley Chase at Pershore on May 8, but it ended in a fall. He did not renew his licence for 1906.
He began training in 1907 but in 1909 accepted an offer to train for leading owners Arthur and Carl Weinberg at their Waldfried Stud in Germany, where he remained until 1914, returning to take over the Beckhampton stable following his father’s retirement.
He began training in 1907 but in 1909 accepted an offer to train for leading owners Arthur and Carl Weinberg at their Waldfried Stud in Germany, where he remained until 1914, returning to take over the Beckhampton stable following his father’s retirement.
His first great horse was Hurry On who ran only as a three-year-old, in 1916, winning all six starts including the wartime substitute St Leger. Darling later reflected that Hurry On was the best he ever trained.
His first great horse was Hurry On who ran only as a three-year-old, in 1916, winning all six starts including the wartime substitute St Leger. Darling later reflected that Hurry On was the best he ever trained.
He won the Derby for the first time in 1922 with Hurry On’s son Captain Cuttle, his second with Manna in 1925 and his third with Coronach in 1926. He won both the 2,000 Guineas and Derby in 1931 with Cameronian, who started odds-on to win the St Leger, only to trail in last. Darling refuted any suggestion that the horse may have been doped, and the stewards took no action, but the racing Press and public were far more suspicious.
He won the Derby for the first time in 1922 with Hurry On’s son Captain Cuttle, his second with Manna in 1925 and his third with Coronach in 1926. He won both the 2,000 Guineas and Derby in 1931 with Cameronian, who started odds-on to win the St Leger, only to trail in last. Darling refuted any suggestion that the horse may have been doped, and the stewards took no action, but the racing Press and public were far more suspicious.
His last three Derby winners came within the space of four years. Bois Roussel, in 1938, being followed by two wartime Derby victories with Pont l’Eveque (1940) and Owen Tudor (1941).
His last three Derby winners came within the space of four years. Bois Roussel, in 1938, being followed by two wartime Derby victories with Pont l’Eveque (1940) and Owen Tudor (1941).
In 1942 he trained Big Game and the temperamental filly Sun Chariot to win four of the five Classics for King George VI.
In 1942 he trained Big Game and the temperamental filly Sun Chariot to win four of the five Classics for King George VI.
His health began to fail towards the end of the war but he produced one last stable star in Tudor Minstrel. Unbeaten at two, Tudor Minstrel put up one of the greatest performances seen in a Classic when winning the 1947 2,000 Guineas by eight lengths. He started 7-4 on for the Derby but plainly failed to stay and could only finish fourth.
His health began to fail towards the end of the war but he produced one last stable star in Tudor Minstrel. Unbeaten at two, Tudor Minstrel put up one of the greatest performances seen in a Classic when winning the 1947 2,000 Guineas by eight lengths. He started 7-4 on for the Derby but plainly failed to stay and could only finish fourth.
Fred Darling retired at the end of that season but that was not the end of his involvement with the sport. He bred the 1953 Derby winner Pinza at his Blacklands Stud, near Beckhampton. He lived just long enough to hear the commentary, with Pinza giving Gordon Richards his long-awaited first Derby winner, dying on June 9, 1953, aged 69, just three days after Pinza’s Epsom triumph.
Fred Darling retired at the end of that season but that was not the end of his involvement with the sport. He bred the 1953 Derby winner Pinza at his Blacklands Stud, near Beckhampton. He lived just long enough to hear the commentary, with Pinza giving Gordon Richards his long-awaited first Derby winner, dying on June 9, 1953, aged 69, just three days after Pinza’s Epsom triumph.
Article based on Chris Pitt’s profile of Fred Darling for Great British Racing’s online Hall of Fame. Additional material relating to his brief spell as a jockey supplied by Alan Trout.
Article based on Chris Pitt’s profile of Fred Darling for Great British Racing’s online Hall of Fame. Additional material relating to his brief spell as a jockey supplied by Alan Trout.
Fred in his days as a jockey
Fred in his days as a jockey
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